The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-01-12
ON HIS TRAVELS.
Il. D. J. Looking Over Old Land
marks.
OREGON, Mo-, January I, 1887. 5

OREGON, Mo-, January I, 1887.
To the Editor of THE HERALD.
| had thought of writing you a few
lines ere this, but being somewhat
fatigued after the long ride between
your city and this place, having slept
but little, on nv arrival here 1 felt
little like writing, and besides I HAD
qui-e desire to cultivate the acquaint-
ance of some children and grand
children of mine residing here, and as
you may suppos , it took considerable
time to do this, owing to my long
absence from this country.
There is not great deal to be seen,
nor much. to be learned, in a rapidly
srformed trip by rail, at best, and
night travel especially. is rather barren
of interesting items. Yet, notwithstand-
ing, [ saw good deal to interest me on
the way. Coming, as | did, from Ogden
| to Council Bluffs in a new, neat and
clear passenger car, one of train
managed by gentlemanly conductors
and brakemen, and efficient engineers, Il
think the reasonable traveller had but
little, if any, cause for complaint. On
this route the hotels are well kept, the
meals served being well cooked and of
good quality.
There has lot been much change in
the appearance of the country between
Ogden and Cheyenne, since the COM
pletion of the U. P. Railway, excepting
the progress of a few of the towns on
rho TOJIfn hiHh I nnfIpon
Evanston, Rawlins and Laramie as the
most conspicuous. 1t was a source of
some surprise TO me to notice the pro-
gress made since l last Travelled over
the Union Pacific Railroad, in Laramie
and Cheyenne especially, both of which
have grown to be quite large towns. l
confess [ am unable to account for the
growth of the latter place, not being
able to see such advantages in its loca-
ton as to justify so large city as it
seems to be sIt NAV, and probably will,
continue to grow after the completion of
the railroad IN course of construction to
the northwest, which is already COM
pleted distance of about so miles.
After passing Cheyenne, l was par
ticulaIly struck with the appearance of
the country, especially east of Sidney,
Neb. did not lock for the settlement
OF the Lodge Pole Valley, at least. so
early as the present time, and was
therefore surprised to see ranches,
farms, fields and towns of considerable
magnitude on the line of the railroad;
and what is most wonderful is the fact,
stated and vouched for by men of ap-
parent responsibility, that crops of
different kinds of grain are produced in
that heretofore arid region without
irrigation. and in the absence of timely
showers of rain.
And right here I beg to suggest to
thoughtful people who may feel an
interest in the future of our country,
the propriety of advancing SLoWty in the
desert lands to wealthy syndicates.
ductive land-now owned by the govern
ment upon which crops can be grown
without artificial irrigation; our popu- |
lation is rapidly increasing, and so
rapidly that only few years will
elapse, when, Uncle Sam not having
them to give, cannot give US all q |
farm" unless indeed, such climatic
changes shall occur as to make our |
desert lands suitable for habitation and |
for cultivation. when should such |
changes occur, which would be the best, !
for the United States or fer rich corpor- |
atoms to own the vast areas of lands |
which now some people are so anxious
to ALLEVIATE?
But will at present pursue the sub
Ject no further, and must close. Prob |
ably you will hear from me soon from
Lincoln, Neb, as will go to that place
n day or two. In the meantime,
Yours truly,
II. D. J.